Africa-Press – Liberia. Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Finance, Bill McGill Jones, has called on the 2025 graduating class of St. Martin’s Catholic High School in Gbarnga, Bong County, to pursue their dreams with unwavering faith, hard work, and commitment to national service.
The Deputy Minister delivered the keynote address on Saturday during the school’s commencement ceremony, which brought together parents, faculty members, local officials, and community leaders.
In his message, Deputy Minister Jones commended St. Martin’s Catholic High School for its longstanding reputation as a center of discipline, excellence, and faith-based learning. He described the institution as a “beacon of knowledge and character formation,” which has produced generations of men and women serving Liberia with distinction in various capacities.
Speaking on the theme “Rise Forward with Faith: Building Your Future, Serving Bong County and Liberia,” Deputy Minister Jones underscored the power of education as a transformative tool that breaks barriers and creates opportunities. He described education as the “great equalizer,” capable of lifting individuals from modest beginnings to positions of influence and service.
“Education can lift you from the humblest beginning to the highest platform. It is the bridge between what is and what can be,” he told the audience. The Deputy Minister encouraged the graduates to approach the next phase of their lives with courage, discipline, and determination. “You will face challenges. Life will not always be easy. There will be moments when the world seems to say ‘no,’ but remember, faith turns ‘no’ into ‘next opportunity,’” he said.
Drawing from his own life story, Deputy Minister Jones shared a deeply personal reflection about his upbringing in Bong County. He narrated how his mother, a market woman from Sergeant Kollie Town in Suakoko District, worked tirelessly to ensure her children received an education, while his father labored late into the night to provide for the family. Despite their humble circumstances, he said his parents instilled in him values of faith, discipline, and resilience that shaped his path in life.
“Because of their sacrifices and through the grace of God, I was able to walk the halls of some of the world’s greatest institutions, including Harvard University,” Deputy Minister Jones recalled. “But my story, like yours, began here in Bong County, where education was not just a path to a better life, but a call to service.”
The Deputy Minister emphasized that true success is not defined by wealth or status, but by character and integrity. Quoting one of his personal maxims, he said, “The decision that will promote you is never made in your presence; it is made in your absence, and during that time, only your character can vouch for you.” He urged the graduates to live with integrity, lead with compassion, and serve with humility.
Deputy Minister Jones also extended heartfelt appreciation to the parents and guardians present, recognizing them as the unsung heroes of the graduates’ achievements.
“You worked hard, prayed hard, and believed hard. You stayed up at night so these graduates could have a better day. Your sacrifices are written in the smiles of your children’s faces,” he said. He encouraged them to continue guiding and supporting their children as they move into the next stage of life.
The Deputy Minister further used the occasion to reflect on Liberia’s resilience as a nation, noting that despite years of civil conflict, health crises, and economic challenges, the country continues to endure through faith and determination. “We have learned to rise forward with faith. We rise when others doubt us. We rise when times are tough. We rise because God is not finished with Liberia yet,” he declared.
He admonished the graduates to adopt a mindset of perseverance and service, urging them to use their education not merely as a personal advantage but as a tool to uplift their communities. “Your education has prepared you not just for a career, but for life. Set goals and pursue them with discipline. Keep learning, keep growing, and keep believing. Do not confuse movement with progress,” he cautioned.
Recounting his own early struggles, Deputy Minister Jones shared how he once doubted his ability to afford college when he applied to Cuttington University. He said through faith, persistence, and hard work, he was able to overcome those fears and ultimately succeed. “When one door closed, I knocked on another. Eventually, one opened, and I walked through. That is what it means to rise forward with faith,” he said.
The Deputy Minister also reflected on the role of faith in overcoming life’s storms, quoting Isaiah 43:3 to remind the audience that God’s presence is constant even in times of hardship. “We would never know Him as a healer if we were never sick, nor as a provider if we were never in need. So when life’s storms come—and they will—hold on. Have faith. Because your greatest testimony will come from your toughest trial,” he said.
Deputy Minister Jones then challenged the graduates to live purpose-driven lives centered on faith, character, and service to Liberia. “Stand tall. Work hard. Dream boldly. Keep God at the center of all that you do,” he told them. As the ceremony drew to a close, he led the graduates and audience in a collective affirmation declaring, “We will rise forward with faith, for Bong County, for Liberia, and for God.”
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